Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-10-22
MRS. DION BOUCICAULT.
Brief History of the wife OF the
Great Playwright.


Brief History of the wife OF the
Great Playwright.
Mrs. Dion Boucicault (Agnes Rob-
ertson) is small in stature and a
brunette. She went on the stage at
the age Of 10 in the English provinces.
She began her London career when
Is years old with the Keenes and
Keelys in the Charles Keene COM
pany. Mr.. and Mrs. Keely were low
comedians. This organization was
the greatest of its kind then in exist
ence. Its era was to that time what
Irving's is to this. keene and Keely
we're joint managers and lessees
of the Princess Theatre, London, now
leased by Wilson Barrett. Dion Bon-
cicault was the author to the theater.
In that company were also Charles
Wiggin, Carrolata lie Clerq, Charles
Fechter, the original Monte Christie" +"
and Kate Terry, the elder sister
Of Ellen. Kate Terry is now the wife
of Arthur Lewis, London lawyer.
Harley and Keely were the comme-
dians of the theater. 1t was here that
Boucicault wrote" LouisXI. for keene
now produced by Irving. "Faust,"
and Glove in Maze" were among
the classics put on. The maze re-
ferred to in the latter play is located
at Hampton Court.
Agnes Robertson remained two sea-
sons with the Keenes. At II years of
age she signed as leading Juvenile
lady with Madame Vestris, the first
wife of Charles Mathews, which couple
then occupied the Lyceum theater,
London, now leased by Henry Irving.
The productions at the Lyceum then
we're great domestic and spectacular
plays. In 1852 Miss Robertson came
to the United States, appearing first
at Burton's theater, Chambers street,
New York. William Burton, or Bill
iy," as he w&s called, was celebrated
comedian, probably the greatest
of his time in this country. After
New York came the memorable en-
gagement at the Boston Museum,
where the furore was SO great that the
seats were sold at auction. For seven
years Miss Robertson chronicled a
continued triumph over the entire
United States. Two weeks after she
reached this country came Dion Bou-
-cicault. They were married at New
York in 1858. Their first boy, Dion
William, was born at New Orleans,
and the other children at the elegant
home OF the family in New York. When
20 years old Dion William, while trying
to save the lives of others, was killed
instantly in the Scotch express col
lision in England in 1876. The family
now consists of two boys and three
girls. Eva is now the wife of John
CLAYTON, manager of the Court
Theatre, London. Darley George
Boucicault is manager of the opera
house, Melbourne, Australia. Patrice
the second daughter, is married to
George Pitman, a New York business
man. Nina. the youngest, is now at
Melbourne playing in her brother
Darley's opera house. AT
the request OF his father
barley George, who is popularity
known as Dot" dropped his owr
and assumed the name of his deac
brother, Dion William. Aubrey
Robertson Bollcicault. the younges
member of the Boucicault family, il
Is years old. He is with his mother
in the "My Geraldine" company, tax
ing the part OF Larry Lone, cripple
Two years since he entered his pro
fession with Kate Claxton as Picart
in the 1.-TWO Orphans" Picard il
Stuart Robson's original character.
Mrs. Boucicault created the parts
OF Jenny Dednes, Arra-na-P P0gue. Cal
lin Ban Colleen Bawn] OcIoro0n, Jes-
sic Brown in the "Relief of Lucknow
Jane Leroyd in the "Long Strike" an(
the principal lady characters in al
Dion Boucicault's plays. For five
years she remained aloof from tht
stage. Her last tour was with Ma>
Strakosh in 1879. She played in Gle
veland, O., the evening Garfield wal
declared elected.
Mrs. Boucicault is Scotch, having
been born in Edinburgh, which she
early left in the practice OF her pro
fession. She is woman OF excellent
parts and in her conversation evlnces
much refinement and intelligence
and an intimate acquaintance with
the great literary and dramatic lights
OF her time. Among that large circle
were Dickens, Douglas Jerrold, Char
les Reade, Wilkie Collins, Bale, the
author of The bohemian Girl, and
many others. In New York, the
home of Mr.. and Mrs. Boucicault,
was the resort Of the best literary and
dramatic people. Dion Boucicault
has two brothers in Australia. Both
are literary men-George, owner Of
the Melbourne Argts, and Arthur
editor OF the Rockhampton, Mel
bourne Argus. Mrs. Boucicault has
returned to the stage through necessi-
ty, brought about by her separation
from her husband. who recently mar.
ried in Australia Louise Thorndyke, a
Californian and member of his com.
psny.
Mrs. Boucicault has brought suit ir
the English courts for divorce. Wher
suit was first instituted she was
awarded $500 a year alimony, pend
ing the disposition of the case. Thi
Boucicault has never paid. Mrs
Boucicault's sole aspiration now is t,
successfully launch her youngest son
Aubrey, in the profession of hi
parentS